Santa Claus MuseumWhere it is Christmas year round in Santa Claus, Indiana2016-12-01T15:24:49Zhttp://santaclausmuseum.org/feed/atom/Emilyhttp://www.santaclausmuseum.orghttp://santaclausmuseum.org/?p=17362016-11-01T13:33:03Z2016-11-01T13:33:03ZThe countdown to Christmas has begun and Santa’s Elves at the Santa Claus Museum & Village are anticipating a joyful holiday season in 2016. We are offering a stocking full of Christmassy events in December, including Christmas carols, storytelling, book signings, and more.

Stop by and write your letter to Santa Claus or drop it in the mail addressed to Santa at PO Box 1, Santa Claus, Indiana, 47579. All letters received by December 21, 2016, will receive a response from Santa and his Elves.

Our Plan a Visit page list our holiday hours of operation. Visit our Christmas Events Page for details on all our special events and check out more information on writing a letter to Santa Claus here.

Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you at the Santa Claus Museum & Village.

Are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Do you know a child living in a house with no chimney? We’ve got something new for you!

Santa’s Elves help Santa respond to letters sent from all over the world, and one of the most common concerns expressed in these letters is, “Santa we don’t have a chimney. How will you get in?” Some children offer suggestions while others just want to make sure Santa is aware of the challenges. With these letters in mind, Assistant Elf and Santa Claus Museum Director Emily Weisner Thompson has authored a new book called But What if There’s No Chimney?

In this story, five-year-old Ben is new in town and is shocked to find his house has no chimney. How will Santa get into his house to deliver gifts? As Christmas approaches, Ben looks for answers, asking his dad, friend, teacher, mailman, and even his dog! Ben’s search ends with a letter to Santa Claus, Indiana. Will Santa reply, and what will he say? In addition, Checkermint the Elf is hiding on each page, just waiting to be discovered.

But What if There’s No Chimney? has just been released and is available in the Santa Claus Museum Gift Shop, and online at Amazon.com. Proceeds from the book benefit the Letters to Santa Program and Santa’s Elves.

]]>1Emilyhttp://www.santaclausmuseum.orghttp://santaclausmuseum.org/?p=17292016-11-01T13:24:54Z2016-10-11T17:04:58ZWe are pleased to announce that authors Sean McHugh and Katie McHugh Parker will be joining our All Hallows’ Eve celebration on October 29, 2016. They will launch their new book, A Broomsticks Christmas, here at the Santa Claus Museum & Village. From 2-4 pm CT, Sean and Katie will be onsite for a meet and greet and book signing.

Halloween is our second favorite holiday, and this year’s All Hallows’ Eve event promises to be the best and spookiest yet.

On October 29, 2016, we are hosting a book signing with Sean McHugh and Katie McHugh Parker to launch the new (and final) book in their wonderful children’s book series. In A Broomsticks Christmas, young witch Pocky McGuire and her human friend Brooklyn learn about the true magic of the Christmas season. The authors are so excited to share their story, and what better time and place to launch a book about a witch at Christmas than All Hallows’ Eve at the Santa Claus Museum? The signing will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 pm CT, though the authors will be around for storytelling as well.

Later that evening, at 7:00 pm CT Susan Fowler will be back to deliver another fantastic rendition of Washington Irving’s classic ghost story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This family-friendly, storytelling event relies on enthusiastic audience participation and children of all ages are sure to enjoy it. But beware, the Headless Horseman promises to make an appearance! Admission is free.

Finally, on Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29, 2016, Santa Claus Museum & Village (in partnership with Team H-A-P-P-Y of Relay for Life), will once again host Santa’s Haunted Church. This haunted tour of the Santa Claus Museum & Village is a great way to celebrate Halloween. Warm up with delicious baked goods, hot chocolate, and cider while you wait for your spooky tour. All benefits from Santa’s Haunted Church proceed the museum and Relay for Life.

]]>0Emilyhttp://www.santaclausmuseum.orghttp://santaclausmuseum.org/?p=16612016-10-11T18:05:11Z2016-07-28T17:07:44ZWe hope you’re having a very merry summer so far! It has been a busy season but we’re already looking forward to a stocking full of fun events during the upcoming holiday season. Visit our Events Page for all the latest news and stop by to visit soon. We are open on weekends through the fall.

]]>0Emilyhttp://www.santaclausmuseum.orghttp://santaclausmuseum.org/?p=16232016-07-28T17:11:02Z2016-04-01T13:01:00ZWinter has flown the coop and spring has sprung! We all know that April showers bring May flowers, but April also heralds the coming of a new season for us at the Santa Claus Museum & Village. We will be open for the 2016 season as of Saturday, May 7, 2016. We’ll be open weekends in May and resume our full-time, summer schedule at the end of the month. Hours of operation can be found on our Plan a Visit page.

We cannot thank you enough for all of your support, dedication, assistance and good cheer this holiday season. We had a record breaking Christmas; in only 21 days, approximately 200 Elves answered over 22,000 letters. We benefited from the knowledge of our veteran Elves and we were thrilled to welcome many new Elves.

As anticipated, the letters flooded in from all over the world. Most letters were brimming with Christmas wish lists (puppies and hover boards were all the rage this year). Some were full of questions (“how do you eat cookies from all around the world without having major intestine issues?”) while others showed compassion for others (“I hope you will bring me my drum set. But if you cannot, that’s ok. I know the world is messed up right now and you have to give the cool gifts to the kids that really need some happiness.”) As always, these Christmas missives brought lots of laughter and even a few tears.

We know that Christmas is an incredibly busy time of year. The demands of preparing for the holidays, in addition to the daily responsibilities of work and family, can be overwhelming. Yet you found the time to help Santa. You helped us pick up the mail, open the letters, read through the wishes and questions, compose a response, place the stamps, and hand cancel every letter with the unique Santa Claus postmark. It was a monumental task and you worked up to the last minute. But thanks to your hard work, each and every letter received by the deadline got a response.

Thank you Elves. The Museum will reopen to the public in May 2016 and I hope you will stop by and say “hello.” And remember: Christmas is only 341 days away. Plenty of time to rest and recover prior to taking up those elf hats again next year!

From all of us at the Santa Claus Museum & Village

]]>2Emilyhttp://www.santaclausmuseum.orghttp://santaclausmuseum.org/?p=15842016-04-01T13:01:50Z2015-12-22T14:17:29ZThe Elves have wrapped up their operation for the year and the Santa Claus Museum & Village is now closed for the season. Thank you to the Elves for all their hard work and thanks to all those who stopped by or sent a letter to Santa Claus – your support is deeply appreciated.

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We’ll see you in May 2016!

]]>1Emilyhttp://www.santaclausmuseum.orghttp://santaclausmuseum.org/?p=15792016-01-19T16:15:03Z2015-11-09T14:34:56ZWe have a stocking full of merry events scheduled for December at the Santa Claus Museum & Village. Please visit our Christmas Events page and our Plan a Visit page to learn about upcoming events and hours of operation.